At Staten Island University Hospital, our physicians have earned a reputation
for excellence and innovation in education,
research and patient care. Our doctors are
renowned in their fields and lead
exceptional teams of nurses, technicians,
clinicians and support staff that deliver
advanced, compassionate care
to their patients.

Staten Island University Hospital provides complete medical
and surgical services in inpatient and outpatient
settings at both our North and South site locations.
Read on to learn more about the full range of
services offered at SIUH, including
locations, contact information
and descriptions of programs.

At Staten Island University Hospital, we strive to provide
the best health care for our patients. We also seek
to make their stay as comfortable as possible.
That’s why we provide many helpful
resources for patients and visitors
to help them navigate our
hospital with ease.

Would you like to visit someone who is a patient at Staten Island University Hospital? If so, we welcome you. Family and friends
can play a key role in the healing process
for patients. You can serve as a
companion, advocate and be a
participant in their care.

Staten Island University Hospital is part of the Staten Island community. In addition to providing state-of-the-art healthcare services, we educate our
neighbors by sponsoring
health-related community
events and support groups.

Providing quality health care for our patients is our greatest priority.
In order to do this, our hospital family is committed
to the education of our medical caregivers.
We provide accredited training and
educational programs for physicians, nurses,
allied health professionals and technicians.

Vascular Surgery - Carotid Artery Disease

Carotid arteries are the major arteries located in both sides of the neck and supply blood to most of the brain. Over time plaque can build up in the wall of these arteries causing them to harden and become narrow, this is know as carotid artery disease. The plaque may completely close off the artery or pieces of the plaque may break off and lodge in the brain, either process can cause a serious condition known as a stroke.

Risk factors:

Family history, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, diabetes, smoking, and obesity.

Symptoms:

Carotid artery disease may not cause symptoms. Unfortunately, the first sign of carotid artery disease could be a stroke or a "mini" stroke also known as a transient ischemic attack or TIA.

Symptoms of a TIA usually last a few minutes to 1 hour and include:

Feeling weak

numbness, or a tingling sensation on one side of your body

confusion

Being unable to control the movement of an arm or a leg

Losing vision in one eye (many people describe this sensation as a window shade coming down)

Sudden drooping of one side of the face

Being unable to speak clearly

Sudden memory loss

Diagnosis and tests:

Blockage of the carotid arteries can occur without any signs or symptoms however it may lead to a stroke. Disease of the carotid arteries is often discovered during a routine examination, when a swishing sound is heard through a stethoscope placed on the neck.

If your doctor suspects carotid artery disease he or she will generally order a non invasive examination called a carotid artery duplex ultrasound. Additional tests you doctor may order to confirm the diagnosis include CAT scan, MRA, or cerebral angiogram

Mild blockage of the arteries is usually treated with medications however severe blockage is usually treated with surgery or a minimally invasive procedure known as a angioplasty and Stent.

Carotid endarterectomy (CEA): The patient is placed under general anesthesia. A 3-4 inch incision is made in the neck, the artery is isolated then the plaque is removed and the artery is sewn back together to allow improved blood flow to the brain. The risks and benefits depend on many factors such as age and other medical conditions that the patient may have. Typically the patient stays overnight in the intensive care unit and is discharged the next day.

Carotid artery stenting (CAS): A small puncture is made in the groin then a specially designed wire and stent are placed in the diseased carotid artery. Once in place, the stent is expanded to hold the artery open. The patient feels little discomfort and is sent home the next day. This procedure is less invasive than carotid surgery, but is reserved for certain individuals.